Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698929206249.pdf (Namibia)
- 421 - - 421 - Thursday, 11 November 2021 No.

17 - 2021 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS MINISTER: QUESTION NO.

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Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation ......................................................................... 175 Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs .................................................. 167 Minister of Finance Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare ....... 113 Minister of Health and Social Services ....................................................... 181 Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation 134, 139, 10.
Minister of Mines and Energy ............................................................ 170, 177 11.

Minister of Justice ....................................................................................... 150 12.

Minister of Urban and Rural Development ................................ 160, 172, 174 13.

Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism ............................ 79, 82, 140 14.

Minister of Industrialisation and Trade 15.


Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform ...................................... 183 - 422 - 16.

Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources 17.

Minister of Works and Transport ........................................................ 178, 179 18.

Minister in the Presidency 19.

Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service 20.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology .................. 151, 161 21.
Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation 22.

Minister of Public Enterprises ..................................................................... 182 Question 115: (2021-09-14) Mr. Kauandenge (NUDO) asked the Minister Agriculture, Water and Land Reform: Information at my disposal point to the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has bought a farm near Otjohorongo Settlement (Omatjete area).

This farm is next to the Otjohorongo Communal area.
The purpose of acquiring this farm was according to the information that I have to enlarge the Communal area and to resettle farmers of that area on this farm, so as to ease the burden of grazing on the Communal area.

However since the farm was bought the Ministry have resettled people who are not originally from the said area of Otjohorongo.

Thus the following questions; 1.

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Does this not defeat the purpose for which the farm was acquired in the first place?
What criteria is the Ministry using before resettling people from other areas in farms bought to extend the boundaries of those Communal areas?

Will you admit that this scenario of Government buying farms next to Communal areas and then resettling farmers who are not from the area is a recipe from civil unrest amongst communities?
Will you agree with me that this problem is not confined to only the Otjohorongo area, but that there are equally farms bought by Government in other areas next to Communal areas, but then used to resettle people from other areas?

How will your Ministry mitigate this issue so that this does not happen again?

Will you agree that your Ministry resettlement program is a complete failure or not?
At the said farm in Otjohorongo area there are farmers who have erected camps there, what was the criteria used to resettle those people on that farm?

Is it safe to assume that many were resettled there based on their political affiliations?

- 423 - 7.
Can the Minister avail to me the list of all resettled farmers since independence te-mysstf, in order for me to acquaint myself with its content and to see whether this resettlement practice over a period of 31 years is representative of our geographical set up in the Country _________________ Question 150 (2021-09-29) Mr. Smit (PDM) asked the Minister of Justice: On 24 September the Namibian reported that the Prosecutor General, Martha Imalwa stated that Mr Armas Amukwiyu would not be prosecuted in the Fishrot Scandal because, in her opinion, “he had explained himself”.
However, according to the newspaper report, her explanation of this statement was that “there are people who benefited (from Fishrot) but they did not play a role in the commission of a predicate offence.” Since there is documented evidence that Mr Amukwiya received N$5,2 million from Fishcor’s N$15 million, channelled through Swapo’s lawyer Sisa Namandje in December 2015, I thus ask: 1.

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Can the Minister inform this august House why this money has not been recovered from Mr Amukwiya?
Can you please explain what is a “predicate offence” and how does it affect Mr Amukwiya?

Since Mr Amukwiya is now a State witness, does this mean he has been cleared of any guilt regarding the receipt and utilisation of the N$5,2 million to the benefit of himself and Swapo?

Is it normal practice to allow state witnesses who are guilty to get off scot free in exchange for testifying in a case?
If this is so, surely it encourages all criminals to confess so that they may walk free to continue their corruption and theft?

Does the PG have the right to make such deals with someone who is clearly involved in corruption?

_________________ Question 151 (2021-09-29) Mr. Kauandenge (NUDO) asked the Minister of Information and Communication Technology: Subsequent to the NBC protracted Industrial Action taken few months ago, has the situation come back to normal or not?
What meganisms has the line Minister put in place to make sure that a similar situation does not repeat itself simply because the employees concerns are ignored by Management?

I will further ask the Minister: - 424 - 1.

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I am informed that the employees who went on strike were deducted money simply because they participated in the strike from May and that there are other employees who haven’t received any salaries since May.
There are allegations that third parties are not paid by NBC Management while the employees are deducted every month.

Where is this money going to then?

Government is giving money to NBC for salaries every month, so if some employees are not paid, to whom does this money goes to then?
_________________ Question 160 (2021-10-07) Mr. Smit (PDM) asked the Minister of Urban and Rural Development: Recent media reports have made it clear that there is much to be desired in the way that many towns in Namibia are being run.

There have been reports of local authority salaries not being paid in Rundu and Henties Bay, Grootfontein Councillors being involved in corrupt activities and infrastructure such as roads and services such as water supply and garbage removal being neglected.
We all watched with dismay recently when Rundu citizens had to resort to scooping water from the crocodile and hippo infested Kavango River for more than a week because the Council was unable to pay its water bill.

I thus ask: 1.

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Can the Minister explain to this august House when action will be taken to discipline the Councils that are failing to provide the services and maintenance they are being paid for?
What will be done to recoup the money owed to the Council by the inhabitants of Rundu and elsewhere who fail to pay their municipal accounts?

Does the Minister agree with me that since people cannot survive without clean water, and the Local Council cannot provide free services, the money must be found to install pre paid water and electricity meters at all premises in Rundu and other towns where people neglect to pay their bills?
_________________ Question 161 (2021-10-07) Ms. Dienda (PDM) asked the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology: Employees of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) downed tools earlier this year.

Their plight among others, was an increase in their salary, update of aging and outdated broadcast and transmission equipment, a financial audit by an external and independent company and the permanent employment of all contract employees.

Minister.
Minister.

I am fully aware that the employees of the NBC, through their bargaining body, the Namibian Public Workers Union (NAPWU), signed an agreement and undertook the industrial action knowing that the ‘No work, no pay’ rule would be applied.

- 425 - After the strike was called off by NAPWU, the board and management of the NBC immediately enacted the ‘no work, no pay’ clause.

Subsequently at the end of May, all those who took part in the strike did not get a salary.
Though the employees’ salaries were zero, the NBC announced that further deductions would still be made, and that these deductions would be affected over a period of five months (October being the last month) .

Minister, employees were not consulted nor informed on how these deductions were calculated, and some have raised errors with the company’s HR department, yet no rectifications have been made.

Hence, the bosses continue to bulldoze unfair deductions on the salaries of these hardworking employees.
I thus ask the Minister 1.

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How were these calculations made?

How can an employee be deducted N$17 000 for two weeks and NS21 000 for the remaining two weeks?

(Taking into cognisance of the fact that the N$21 000 is divided into five months) Thirdly, are these deductions within the legal framework which stipulates that no more than two thirds of an employee’s salary should be deducted?
How many employees have raised concerns with NBC’s HR department about calculations that were done wrong?

And how many such errors have been corrected?

Furthermore Minister, the broadcaster’s top bosses awarded themselves fat bonuses while journalists in the newsroom have had to share computers to write stories.

When last did the Minister visit the newsroom to see the conditions under which NBC employees are working?
Minister, one of the demands of the striking workers was the upgrade of dilapidating equipment at the public broadcaster.

Has the Ministry done an audit on the current equipment of the NBC, and how much will the upgrading of equipment cost?

Finally Minister, the NBC plans to introduce a 24hour news channel.

However, the broadcaster has always maintained that it is underfunded.

Can the Minister share with the House a detailed and comprehensive outline of cost implications that such a plan may have.
In short, how is the broadcaster planning to roll out such a production?

_________________ Question 167 (2021-10-13) Mr. Kavekotora (RDP) asked the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs: The Ministry of Veteran’s Affairs was established way back in 2007 but one hears veterans complaining about non-payments and or discriminatory practices in the registrations process.

- 426 - Thus I ask: 1.

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What is the official figure of registered veterans from inception to date?
What is the official number of children of veterans and in what way have these children benefited in accordance with the veterans act?

Out of the officially registered veterans, how many benefited from the N$ 50,000 once off payments and the N$ 200.000 meant for project funding?

If there are veterans who qualify for these funds, but have not received these benefits to date, what are the justifications and when can they expect to benefit from these funds?
What benefits if any accrued to veterans since the establishment of the Veterans Associations?

I am reliably informed that abattoirs, a security company, Fishing quotas and brick making projects were established for the sole benefits of veterans.

Can the Minister please quantify the benefits accrued to veterans as a result of these interventions?

I am informed that 600 applications for project funding were approved since 2011 but have not been funded yet.

What is the justification?


Can the Minister make the register of Veterans available to PAC for further scrutiny?

On August 16, 2021, Dr Albert Kawana MP, in his capacity as SWAPO Secretary for Legal Affairs wrote a letter to Sophia Shaningwa, SWAPO Secretary General, regarding a meeting with ex-plan combatants.
In that letter Hon Kawana plea that all veterans who are still members of the SWAPO party must establish a single organization representing them and the new organization should consist of only SWAPO party members.

In which way is this practice not discriminatory and could this not lead to preferential treatment of ex combatants who are still SWAPO party members to the detriments of others who are not SWAPO members.
_________________ Question 170 (2021-10-14) Mr. Muharukua (PDM) asked the Minister of Mines and Energy: 1.

Does Namcor have a budget to execute its work program for all the Petroleum Exploration Licenses that are issued to it to date?

a.

If so, what is the budget provision in respect of each Petroleum Exploration License; and what has been spent on each license thus far?

date (Kindly specify the exact amounts for each license)?

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Would Minister, agree with me that the Standard Business Model in Upstream Oil & Gas Sector in simple terms for any applicant is: - 427 - a.

Applicant acquires a Petroleum Exploration License through whatever licensing regime the Host Country, whether closed bidding, open bidding etc.).

In many instances, the license holder then may ramp up the value of the license, and make it attractive to potential investors who have resources for the exploration to occur.
(A Process called Farming In or Farming Down).

However, farming out straight away is also doable to mitigate cost, and to share risk sharing.

Thus the following further questions: 3.

Has there been foreign or Namibian (whether private or public companies) that went straight into a farm out process, after acquiring an exploration license?

a. b.

If so kindly list the name of such companies.


Further, has such farming out processes proven to be a success in attracting the requisite investments to benefit exploration efforts and the economy at large?

4.

From your Ministry’s website a trend is notable from the 100 or so plus Petroleum Exploration licenses issued, that local Namibian ownership of licenses are 5%, 10% by Namcor, and 85% by International player in the industry.

Hence the following questions: a. b. c. What informs this notable quotas?
How does was the determination done to arrive are the current 5% of the local stakes in these licenses.

What measure do you have in place to ensure that officials in the Mines and Energy Ministry do not actually have a hand in deciding which Namibian local companies must partner with, and thereby own licenses by their proxies?

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May the Minister kindly provide a list of all the local companies that have shareholding in companies to which petroleum licenses have been issues?

a.
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Who are the natural persons that own such local companies?

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Finally, officials in your Ministry inform that Government has Petroleum Agreements in place with Oil & Gas companies, in terms whereof there are requirements relating to: a. b. c. Companies having Bank Guarantee in place Companies paying annual area license fees Companies paying Petrofund contributions 6.1 May you provide this august House with a list of companies that are not in compliance with the above requirements and / or any other as stipulated in the said agreement with Government?
- 428 - 6.2 Which of these companies are in default, but with waivers?

_________________ Question 172 (2021-10-20) Dr. Iijambo (SWANU) asked the Minister of Urban and Rural Development: A classical case in point is the fast collapsing Municipality of Grootfontein.
The filth and flies ridden Grootfontein Municipality is most probably among the top municipalities ran by incompetent councillors and managers and if drafting measures are not put in place to reverse its fast deteriorating fortunes, a lot of our people will be adversely affected.

There are about 84 residents of Grootfontein who for more than 15 years have been illegally employed as independent contractors at a salary of N$650.00 per month.

Who can live on N$650,00 per month in this country?
How can Swapo allow such abuse of our people for so long in independent Namibia?

The Grootfontein Municipality simply entered into what they call a contract between themselves as a client and these people as independent contractors just to avoid paying these people the correct salaries and benefits in terms of their salary grades and scales.
If these employees were employed as general laborers their salaries plus benefits would have been around N$ 9000, 00 per month and it would have been difficult to just dismiss them at will.

Can the Minister explain why he continues to allow so much lawlessness to prevail under his watch?
In terms of the Labour Act, Act 11 of 2007 as amended, Section 128 A provides: “For purposes of this Act or any other employment law, until the contrary is proved, an individual who works for or renders services to any other person is presumed to be an employee of that person regardless of the form of the contract or the designation of the individual, if any of the following factors is present, a. b. c. d. e. f g. The manner in which the individual works is subject to the control or direction of that other person, The individual’s hours of work are subject to the control or direction of that other person, In the case of an individual who works for an organisation, the individual’s work forms an integral part of the organization, The individual has worked for that other person for an average of at least 20 hours per month over the past three months, The individual is economically dependent on that person for whom he or she works or renders services, The individual is provided with tools of trade or work equipment by that other person, The individual only works for or renders devices to that other person.
“ All the above legal requirements are met by these employees and yet under your political leadership the Grootfontein Municipality has a contract which runs contrary to these legal stipulations.

Can you explain why and what you intend to do to clean up this mess?

In the case of Grootfontein there cannot be any justification to employ these people on a fixed term contract and where such justification does not exist.

Section 128 C provides that such employees be presumed as indefinitey employed.
Swanu of Namibia demands that these people be given permanent employment without any delay and that the monies - 429 - which they were supposed to have been paid in salaries for more than 15 years be paid to them as compensation.

Minister, we await your response and swift action.

We must also before we step off this point state that strong consideration be given to the deliberately created artificial need to outsource local authority functions.
Again here the Grootfontein Municipality despite being mismanaged has set to outsource its key functions.

We must stop the outsourcing of our Town Councils services to private individuals or companies so that we can build in-house capacities to render municipal services.

The example the City of Windhoek solid waste management department is one other case in point.

These outsourced functions enrich managers of municipalities together with their politician friends at the expense of our communities.
The labour hire at the Grootfontein Municipality is no different to Swanla under the apartheid colonial labor administration.

It must stop immediately!

_________________ Question 174 (2021-10-21) Mr. Seibeb (LPM) asked the Minister of Urban and Rural Development: I understand that it is your new unwritten policy to frustrate and ensure that the regional councils and local authorities governed by ethical political parties such as LPM and NUDO in Gobabis Municipality fail.
It has emerged that you are sitting on submissions of documents for land that you ought to approve for the development of Gobabis Truck Port months ago.

You are simply refusing to act because the Town Council is under NUDO and LPM administration.

The project investment is worth N$380 million.

The envisage Gobabis Truck Port will offer over 100 and 500 direct and indirect employment opportunities to Gobabis residents and nearby communities, both skilled and unskilled.
This project will ensure that Gobabis becomes a second logistics hub for Namibia and SADC and will accelerate development to the cattle country.

Questions: 1.

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When will you sign the submitted documents for the approval of land to be made available so the project can kick-start?
Why do you have a scorched earth policy like it was the case of Al Bashir in Sudan against South Sudan and SPLM to eliminate and frustrate alternative parties governed regions like Hardap and //Kharas regions and local authorities because reports are emanating that you are now targeting Rehoboth and Keetmanshoop and have instructed your staff members and Cabinet that they should only work through unelected Governors and ignore Regional Council Chairpersons and Mayors?
_________________ Question 175 (2021-10-21) Mr. Seibeb (LPM) asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation: Contrary to the misinformation you offered to this Parliament last week Thursday, 14 October 2021 on the situation in eSwatini, there is a latest development ongoing, which you conveniently omitted.
There are revelations in eSwatini that King Mswathi III - 430 - and Prime Minister have enlisted services of the soldiers from the Equatorial Guinea, and that these soldiers are allegedly using live ammunition to shoot at civilians.

It was reported this morning on SABC NEWS that 9 civilians have been shot and that the hospital even confirmed such a report.
It is now reported that in his capacity as chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation that President Cyril Ramaphosa has dispatched an envoy, former Minister Jeff Radebe and Hon.

Candith Mashego-Dlamini, the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to meet the last absolute monarch in Africa.
Even the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres said he was following the developments in the Kingdom with “increasing concern” and reiterated his call for stakeholders to refrain from violence and address their differences through inclusive and meaningful dialogue.

Questions: 1.

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The key question from the point of view of resolving conflicts, once an armed conflict has occurred is, what is the point of departure for the settlement?
Shall the parties involved (The King, Government, security forces, pro- democracy movements) in a settlement use new status quo created by actions of one party or shall they demand a return to status quo ante bellum before negotiations can be considered?

Can you confirm, or reject allegations of how Equatorial Guinea soldiers, and by implication government got entangled in this supposedly SADC affair?
There are serious threats of allegations that school learners who are involved in the protests against the King would be denied scholarships.

This is a very serious allegation made by school learners themselves, student unions and civils society movements.

Can you contact your counterpart there and give us a full written report on this?

This is human rights violation.

Has Namibian President considered sending an envoy to eSwatini to ascertain facts for us on the ground?
Or are you merely relying on reports from the so- called SADC Troika?

Will MIRCO engage eSwatini Foreign Affairs Minister on the release of pro- democracy activists from prison and call for the release of the two Members of Parliament, who are innocently persecuted?
_________________ Question 177 (2021-10-26) Mr. Murorua (UDF) asked the Minister of Mines and Energy: Minister, Speaker, Members, my experience in several portfolios that I have occupied has taught me that one of the primary ingredients to good governance is to ensure that no one individual should have too much power to such an extend that his/her discretion dictates the order of the day and it appears to me that some senior staff members in your Ministry are having too much power in various directorates under your leadership.
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Minister, who selects the members of the Evaluation Committee that evaluates Petroleum Exploration License Applications in the Directorate of Petroleum Affairs?

What criteria is used to select these Evaluation Committee Members in the Directorate of Petroleum Affairs?

What is the term of office of the Evaluation Committee that evaluates Petroleum Exploration License Applications in the Directorate of Petroleum Affairs?
There are staff members of the Directorate of Petroleum Affairs who have in the past been invited to participate as members of the Evaluation Committee Meeting but have been erroneously left out of more recent Evaluation Committee Meetings probably due to their principled stance on transparency and fairness of the evaluation process Why would a Staff members who have qualified to serve on the Evaluation Committee Meeting(s) in the past, but were then omitted from the invitation to either subsequent Evaluation Committee Meetings or the next Evaluation Committee meeting?
Would you agree with me that this could be a classical example of where those in power may use their power to sideline the honest and principled few?

5.

Is there a different committee or panel that conducts reviews of any challenges to the outcomes of the Evaluation Committee?

5.1 What is the procedure if the applicant is dissatisfied with the outcome or is it the same committee which compiles information for review applications?
Who selects the members of the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) for negotiating the Petroleum Agreements with Petroleum Exploration License Applicants in the Directorate of Petroleum Affairs?

What criteria is used to select these Government Negotiating Team (GNT) Members in the Directorate of Petroleum Affairs?

How many members should the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) consist of?

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Is the GNT an Inter-ministerial committee or an intra-ministerial committee?
9.1 9.2 If it is an Inter-ministerial committee (which I am convinced it is, as per your ministerial guidelines), has there ever been a GNT that was constituted without representatives from other stakeholders Ministries?

If the answer in 9.1 above is yes, who chairs such a meeting and would such a meeting have been legally constituted in the absence of other stakeholders Ministries?
- 432 - 9.3 If your answer in 9.1 above is No, and I have information that suggest that there has been such a meeting, what would your answer amount to?

10.

Does the guidelines given to the Evaluation Committee and the GNT account for the Government’s indigenisation policies to ensure fair and substantive participation of local indigenous companies and individuals in the petroleum industry?
_________________ Question 178 (2021-10-27) Mr. Van Wyk (PDM) asked the Minister of Works and Transport: Minister, It is clear from statistics that covid-19 has become a seasonal pandemic in Namibia and therefore the introduction of strict regulations to protect Namibian lives during winter months in Namibia is needed.

Restrictions put in place to limit the impact of Covid-19, have had a widespread impact on people’s lives and the Public Transport Industry was not spared.
Minister, the impact of Covid-19 has led to the implementation of strict regulations by Government during periods of national and regional lockdown.

This includes reducing the number of passengers transported at any given time between various destinations.
The demand, due to a combination of Government lockdowns and fears of contracting and spreading the virus when using mass transport modes has increase and has caused various challenges for the Public Transport Industry- I shall therefore ask the following: 1.

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Minister, it is alleged that stakeholders in the Public Transport Industry were not consulted before recommendations were made to the National Covid -19 Response Team that advices the President on appropriate action.
Would you please enlightened this august House as to how the said sector was consulted, if it is was not consulted, what are the reasons for such omission?
Unfair competition between registered transport operators and unlicensed or pirate operators has increased during the periods of lockdown, with claims of harsh treatment of registered transport operators by law enforcement, allegedly with the permission of your Ministry as unregistered “seven seaters” were allowed to enter the market, whilst such vehicles are not fit for passenger transport over long distances?

What is your response to these claims?


It is alleged that the Ministry ignore written submissions from “representatives” in the Public Transport Industry as no feedback is given on such submissions.

What channels of communication would you recommend to the industry?

There seems to be confusion is to which union in the Public Transport Industry is recognized by Government, could you inform the “Industry” as to which union is recognized by Government and as to why that specific Union is recognized?
Minister, we have seen various attempts from Government to aid industries such as the tourism industry, that was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, what plans do you have to aid the Public Transport Industry and - 433 - what recommendations would you make in future to reduce the negative effect of regulations on the industry?
_________________ Question 179 (2021-10-27) Dr. Iijambo (SWANU) asked the Minister of Works and Transport: The TransNamib warehouse used to be painted twice a year, during the colonial era.

Since independence, it gradually evolved into an eye-sore.

All over the country, Windhoek being worse, Government properties from house to schools, clinics to recreational facilities are horrendously dilapidating.

Namibia has sufficient paint outlets - Neopaints, Dulux and most hardwares outlets will stock paint.
Our vocational training centers are graduating scores of artisans.

Universities are even producing engineers, yet the sorry state of Government properties, all over the country leave much to be desired.

Besides the general abuse, Government vehicles piles-up at the Government garages, all over the country, rusting systematically.

I am hence, compelled to ask the Minister - 1.

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What is your Ministry’s plan to restore the damage?
Will this trend resume Windhoek’s glory, as the cleanest city in Africa?

What happens to the Ministry’s maintenance budget if Government assets continue to unacceptably deteriorate, across the spectrum?

Could the old building materials, like frames, tables, doors, etc., be auctioned at reasonable prices instead of deteriorating in Government institutions?

_________________ Question 180 (2021-10-26) Mr. Murorua (UDF) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform: 1.
Are you aware that bovine hides, and skins of bovine (including buffalo) or equine animals (fresh or salted, dried, limed or otherwise preserved, but not tanned, parchment-dressed or further prepared), whether or not dehaired or split and; Goat and sheep skins in wet or dry form, whether salted or not, but excluding skins in pickled, wet blue, crust, dyed crust or finished leather form and; Raw skins of sheep or lambs (fresh or salted, dried, limed, pickled or otherwise preserved, but not tanned, parchment dressed or further prepared), whether or not with wool on or split are all having a 60% export levy of the value of each hide or skin?
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Are you aware that the levy on hides and skins are the highest export levy that is officially gazetted in Namibia for a product from the peasantry as opposed to deeply sophisticated and invested mining industries?
Would you agree with me that this high levy was introduced to curb on the hoof exports of livestock but that we are now having more on the hoof exports of livestock than before and that this levy has killed a very old agricultural industry which was benefitting the farmer on the ground?

Is it a fair practice that we levy the hides so high while the local slaughtering is providing employment for Namibians and by so doing nullify our own growth at home policy?
Would you agree with me that more than five tanneries has closed shop exactly because of this high levy and that it has contributed to more than a hundred job losses?

Are the livestock which is exported on the hoof to RSA levied for their hides separately or are they exported on the hoof without their hides?

Would you agree with me that this high levy has also caused tremendous losses to the farming communities since, the hides and skins are now just thrown away due to the non-existence of a market?
Would you Minister, have this levy reviewed drastically to at least be on par with the export levies for fish and other minerals like uranium, while on the hoof exports of livestock is also going on in the current form to enhance our growth at home policy with regard to the hides and skins industry?
_________________ Question 181 (2021-11-02) Mr. Smit (PDM) asked the Minister of Health and Social Services: According to media reports in Namibia as well as South Africa, a fourth wave of Covid-19 is expected to hit Namibia in either November or December 2021.

This means that our medical facilities, both government and private, are likely to once again be inundated by desperately ill people.
This is especially likely as only about 10 percent of our population has been vaccinated to date and the urgency of the vaccination drive seems to have stopped.

I now ask: 1.

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3.

This august House wants to know from the Minister whether it is true that the Ministry of Health and Social Services has stopped training nurses.

If this is true, will the Minister inform this august House of the reason for this in the middle of an ongoing pandemic?
Would-be nurses amongst our young people are usually unable to pay to study at the private nurses training institutions.

Will the Minister agree with me that the fact that the Government is not offering training is disadvantaging our young people?

- 435 - 4.

Will the Minister also agree with me that by not training nurses when a new wave of covid-19 is predicted will place medical care in government medical facilities in danger?
_________________ Question 182 (2021-11-03) Mr. Seibeb (LPM) asked the Minister of Public Enterprises: A certain Ms. Maureen Hinda obtained a grant of approximately N$1 million from the Social Security Commission (SSC), to invest in her cutlery training school In Keetmanshoop.

The said cutlery training school has been closed, due to a high staff turn-over, poor administration and lack of payment for staff members.
It is alleged that there was a general lack of accountable business practice and financial management.

1.

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Can the Minister update us on the correct amount granted by the Social Security Commission?

Can the Minister inform this Parliament on the terms of the grant agreement, and the arrangements in place with the SSC when closure of the school occured?
This is because if this school is closed, state resources have been washed away and money may have been wasted for private benefit, with the sudden closure of the school, and the overall intent of the SSC to help grade 10 students has been endangered.

Was the fiduciary duty of Ms. Hinda not toward SSC and the community not breached?

How the spending was made and whether any money was repaid?
What happens to the students who were left abruptly due to the sudden closure of this school, and the monies they paid to enrol at this school?

_________________ Question 183 (2021-11-02) Mr. Seibeb (LPM) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform: During the period when Hon.

Daniel Utoni Nujoma was Minister of Land Reform, he resettled in questionable manner, certain elites and foreign billionaires.
It is alleged that he bought a certain Namibian Defence Force (NDF) farm, where his daughter got married, and where he frequented and resettled it to his friend.

There were investigations into this matter.

Also, the former Minister of Land Reform allowed four farms to be bought by the Russian billionaire, a certain Mr. Rashid Sardorov despite a public outcry about the sale of land to foreign absentee landlords.
Apparently, this Russian billionaire promised to create employment and huge investment in the property.

Similarly, there are allegations that the former Minister of Land Reform might have used his powers substantially and tried to influence a certain small-holder farmer, who was struggling to farm due to high maintenance costs to sell the farm he was resettled on to him, or to his associate.
Eventually, the Ministry of Land Reform bought the farm, named Rus, where a certain Mr. Johan Ndjaronguru (the Presidential Security Chief, - 436 - VIPP Directorate), who did not necessarily comply with the resettlement application process and thus should have been disqualified is resettled on (he didn’t submit Meatco brand etc.).

In fact, Mr. Ndjaronguru applied after the application deadline, and was fervently assisted in this illegal process by the Governor of Otjozondjupa Region, it is alleged.

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How far is the investigation into the allegations about the improper sale of NDF farms)?

Will the Minister explain to Parliament, as well as to the public, how those NDF farms where acquired and the criteria used to resettle elites on those farms?

Will the Minister published the list of the beneficiaries of those former NDF farms?

On the farms purchased by the Russian billionaire, how much hectares of land was bought?

How many people are employed at the farms that he bought?
What is the wage-labour breakdown?

And what is the total investment thus far?

Can the Minister shed clarity on Farm Rus and brief the Parliament on how a certain Mr. Johan Ndjaronguru qualified?

Was there any preferential treatment?

Is there any ongoing investigation with regards to alleged generally corrupt symbiotic relationship between Mr. Daniel Utoni Nujoma and Axab Auchamb and the manner in which they tried to influence a former resettled farm owner of Farm Rus?

Is that not conflict of interests?


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